Union Building receives $1.4 million
By KURT HAUGLIE, DMG WriterArticle Photos
CALUMET - The rehabilitation project for the Keweenaw National Historical Park's Union Building has another $1.4 million after President Barack Obama signed a bill Friday authorizing the payment.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act after a House-Senate conference committee approved the bill, which included the money for the Union Building project. It was then sent to the president for his signature.
John Rosemurgy, KNHP historical architect, said the $1.4 million will fund part of the $6 million project to create a park visitor center and a permanent exhibit based on life in the Calumet area during the copper-mining era.
"(The $1.4 million is) an earmark that will offset the cost of construction," Rosemurgy said. "We're thrilled to get the earmark."
Rosemurgy said the cost breakdown for the project is $1.1 million for design costs, $3.1 million for the building interior construction, and $1.8 million for exhibit fabrication.
Work was done on the exterior in 2005, Rosemurgy said. Windows are being replaced now.
"The exterior really is complete," he said.
Eventually, the first floor of the building, which is on Fifth Street in Calumet, will have a visitor center and some material related to the copper mining era. The second floor will house permanent exhibits related to daily life of miners, mine owners and mangers, social activity and businesses in the area. The third floor will have space for community use.
Rosemurgy said the plan is for construction on the interior to begin next year.
"In May 2010, we will be completing our (interior) construction documents," he said.
Interior work will include an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant elevator.
"The building will be fully accessible," he said.
Construction documents for the exhibits are expected to be completed by August or September 2010, Rosemurgy said.
After the construction designs are complete, Rosemurgy said bids will be taken for the interior work, which includes architectural finishes, such as doors, trim, floors and ceilings. Exhibit construction will follow that work.
"Exhibit construction can't begin until the other construction is complete," he said.
Brian Hoduski, KNHP chief of museum and archival services, has begun the process to find items related to the copper mining era to put in the exhibit. He's asking local residents and those who used to live in the area if they have items acquired from relatives or in some other way, to donate to the exhibit. A list of items desired for the exhibit can be found online at nps.gov/kewe/parkmgmt/union-building-planning.htm or call Hoduski at 337-1104 ext. 251.
Rosemurgy said the plan is to create an exhibit comparable to those found in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
"We're looking at a national audience (for the exhibit)," he said.
Rosemurgy said the planned opening of the building is late 2011.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
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FreeCountry
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11-04-09 2:13 PM
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I hope all who are against this crazy waste of tax payers money vote in 2010. Let's follow Virginia's & New Jersey's example and get rid of the over spending good old boys who have been representing this area. Who is going to pay for all of this B.S.??? I know the answer. Trying to spend our way out of this mess is just stupid. It won't work.
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lakertaker
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11-04-09 9:40 AM
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6 million for a visitor center and exhibit? In Calumet? C'mone man!
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lakertaker
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11-04-09 8:06 AM
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techgrad07, we are not complaining, we just want a say in how our tax dollars are spent.
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BuddyBoy
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11-03-09 9:26 PM
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Great, Obama counters the Bush Depression. Incredible. Bush was out with his bankers buddies again yesterday I saw, they flew him to an exclusive hunting ranch. Glad the bankers are making money with their foreclosures, they think it is fun to throw folks on the street. Bankers complain because their bonus is only $2 million, a real cut in pay. Morons.
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Snowman
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11-03-09 9:04 PM
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Laker, the airport comparison is an excellent one. The biggest problem we have is trasportation of tourists and business travelers in and out of here. We are not a day trip and the Park is not a destination resort! There is no common sense left. Its all a big money grab. Levin is the best!
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Snowman
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11-03-09 9:00 PM
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Heck wait till they start to sink mone into what should come to be called "Ripley's Believe it or Not" Smelter project. Another dozen million there down the road I would think.
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Techgrad07
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11-03-09 8:57 PM
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Why does it matter how many "locals" are employed there? The staff obviously live here, so they spend money here...how is this bad?Those of you who want this money spent on local things like schools, water systems, etc. seriously misunderstand how the federal government works. And really, do none of you have anything better to do than complain, complain, complain about every story that runs in the DMG?
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fireman54j
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11-03-09 8:22 PM
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this is a joke to give the park this much money how many locals do the park employ maybe 2. the rest have been brought in from out of town. i say kill the park and put the money in to the schools
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lakertaker
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11-03-09 6:07 PM
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6 million for a park visitor center. How long will it take this visitor center to generate 6 million for the local economy?
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lakertaker
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11-03-09 6:01 PM
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Our government decided that $132,000.00 over 2 years for 730 extra flights from the Houghton county airport was a waste of money. But 1.4 million to fix up an old building for a park that is a joke is accepable? What is wrong here, these are our tax dollars at work, demand better peolpe, it's your money at work!
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Exciteable
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11-03-09 4:03 PM
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Pork pork pork pork pork pork pork pork pork pork porkpork pork pork pork porkporkpork pork pork porkpork pork pork pork porkpork
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LivinginLaurium
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11-03-09 3:22 PM
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The park is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday night at 6:00 pm at the park headquarters for anyone who wants to find out more about the project. You'll get a chance to see some of the plans.
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Islander84
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11-03-09 3:21 PM
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Great to see this money coming in. Any money spent in the area is money well spent, regardless of its source. As to the claims that this money "could be spent better elsewhere," that's simply not how this works. This funding came from a bill that provides money to the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and other agencies, none of which are responsible for funding local infrastructure projects. Would you rather these NATIONAL agencies disregard their Congressionally-mandated duties to fund LOCAL projects? And here I was thinking you all advocated keeping big government out of local affairs...
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lostmyshovel
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11-03-09 3:14 PM
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I see what you're saying, Abides. There are a thousand good uses for this money in the Keweenaw and I wouldn't flinch at any of them. That said, I think KNHP is a good recipient, though the payoff for the community won't be so immediate. I dislike the "if you build it they will come" philosophy for almost everything but sports stadiums, but I do know the KNHP won't gain attention until it's able to spend some money to fulfill ideas.
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calumetboy1
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11-03-09 1:12 PM
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Strange that I see many of these writing critics complaining about the buildings here being an eyesore, but when something gets done about some of them, maybe money should be spent somewhere other than Calumet? Why would the Redridge****be any more important?
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favorite
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11-03-09 12:44 PM
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Isn't it a bit strange that during political campaigns earmarks are a bad thing, until they come to your area. This is certainly change we can believe in... voters continue to be played the fool.
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Abides
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11-03-09 12:22 PM
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snowbound: I didn't mean **Geographically** elsewhere. But I suppose that could mean the streetlights elsewhere, like in Lake Linde. Or the decaying water/sewer lines elsewhere, in Hancock. Or the crumbling****elsewhere, in Freda. Or the trail system that attracts far (far) more tourists and tourism revenue than KHNP.
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Abides
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11-03-09 12:18 PM
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lostmyshovel - With all due respect, while I appreciate your comment, it remains my opinion that the same workers could've (should've) been put to work on a project (or projects) carrying the same price-tag, but with a greater and lasting utility to the community. Specifically, I think there is a greater need (and a greater benefit to be realized) by investing in infrastructure (schools, roads, bridges, Redridge Dam, etc. ) And, forgive my candor- I do not subscribe to the "if we build it they will come" rationale behind this project. KNHP will flounder as long as its pariticapting member sites flounder.
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snowbound
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11-03-09 12:16 PM
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Better spent elsewhere? Where? Ohio? Minnesota? Tell me again how $1.4 million dumped on our heads is a bad thing?
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lostmyshovel
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11-03-09 12:08 PM
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Well, I'm sure the workers who do the construction won't complain, nor will their families when they bring home the paycheck, nor will the grocery store when they buy some food, nor will the farmers when the grocery store turns around and buys their produce, nor will the downtown Calumet business owners when the visitor center draws more tourists, nor will...
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Abides
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11-03-09 11:51 AM
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folks- I'm all for stimulating our economy with the wise and considered investment of our hard earned tax dollars in projects that will produce jobs and lasting benefits. That said... I smell pork. This is money that could've (should've) been better spent elsewhere.
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favorite
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11-03-09 11:35 AM
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And buck keep on coming. 6 million dollars...for a $200,000 building? Isn't anyone else outraged by this?
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Copperislandtrader
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11-03-09 11:25 AM
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OOOO0000ooohh! My Eye!
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